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The map above displays forecasted fire danger across North Carolina using the Adjective Rating, a National Fire Danger Rating System parameter that describes environmental conditions affecting the potential for wildfire ignition and spread. The Adjective Rating categorizes fire danger into five levels: Low, Moderate, High, Very High, and Extreme. These ratings are presented in the map above for NC Forest Service’s multi-county Fire Danger Rating Areas (FDRAs), which are regions with similar topography, vegetation, and climate characteristics.

These ratings are based on the Energy Release Component (ERC), a measure of potential fire intensity driven by accumulated dryness within forest fuels, and calculated from local weather stations across each FDRA using Fuel Model Z. During the active growing season, ratings are further refined using modeled herbaceous live fuel moisture values generated within FEMS to account for seasonal greening and reduced fire potential. As with any broad-scale modeled product, localized conditions may vary, and final daily forecasts may be manually adjusted to better reflect observed and expected conditions within individual FDRAs.

Click on any FDRA region on the map to view its full 7-day forecast.

Explore More Data:
Our Fire Weather Intelligence Portal brings together weather and fire risk information, including real-time conditions and forecasts, across the Southeast US.
Access the Portal • View the User Guide

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Our fire weather work is supported by the NC Forest Service (including via funding from the US Forest Service) within the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and by the USDA Southeast Regional Climate Hub.